Understanding the Times Latin America

Social

• Immigration from rural to cities; large masses with no skills and little money
• Immigration to the US: Brain Drain
• Increased dependence on remittances (money from people in US sent to El Salvador). 14% of GNP is from money sent from US.
• People have more disposable income and will become more open to high culture. Almost no Christian presence in culture like this.
• Explosion of anarchistic youth, bent on destroying everything (drugs, gangs)
• Larger gap between classes of people; public and private schools
• Younger generation of leadership is displacing older people. 40+ are endangered. Younger people have little morality
• Emergence of Indigenous movements. Bolivian president

Technological

• Technology has brought pornography to formerly prehistoric people
• Isolation of young people "Ipod"

Economical

• Resurgence of leftist thinking
• Capitalism is dying out and collectivism is returning
• Extreme poverty and outrageous wealth
• NAFTA and other moves toward integration (no more borders)

Environmental

• Increased depletion of natural resources
• The environment is a new attraction for revolution

Political

• Loss of credibility for traditional politicians
• Celebrities are the new politicians
• Rise of anarchy and vigilante justice
• Rice of civil society in response